2019 Ford Mustang Mach-E: 鈥楨lectric Mustang SUV鈥?Is Not A Typo
Looks like: Though Mustang elements are present, the SUV has quite a different aesthetic and a sweeping roofline reminiscent of the BMW X6. The 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show gives us a look at Ford鈥檚 electrified future with the introduction of the 2021 Mustang Mach-E, a brand-new electric SUV. Related: More 2019 L.A. It鈥檚 an interesting move to attach the Mustang name to an SUV, let alone an electric one. There are Mustang elements in its design, from the headlights and taillights to the unmistakable pony badges found front and rear. But in nearly every other way, this vehicle seems to zig where the Mustang zags, and that鈥檚 probably for the better given the difference in aims between a gas-powered sports car and an SUV (even a performance-oriented one). The Mustang Mach-E will be offered in six trims: Select, Premium, First Edition, California Route 1, GT and GT Performance Edition. The First Edition will be offered at launch in limited numbers, while the California Route 1 will be a special edition with its own exterior cues.
The Mustang Mach-E鈥檚 profile fools you, as a quick glance suggests a roofline that dips down sharply as it moves rearward, giving more of a fastback look (a la the BMW X6). But above that, you鈥檒l notice the top of the roof is painted black, which thankfully allows for more backseat headroom than it seems at first glance. Up front, the tri-bar front headlights are pure Mustang and flank the 鈥済rille,鈥?which is really a solid piece of bodywork that features a slight offset from the rest of the front to give it more of a conventional appearance. It鈥檚 body-colored on most models, but the GT has a textured appearance (though it鈥檚 still solid and smooth to the touch). The rear also gets more Mustang design elements, with tri-bar taillights and sequential turn signals. The overall look of the five-seat interior screams minimalism, as there aren鈥檛 many physical controls to be found anywhere and the majority of inputs come via the large, 15.5-inch vertically oriented touchscreen that dominates the dashboard.
Housed within the multimedia screen is Ford鈥檚 next-generation Sync system (Sync 4), which comes with many new features, including wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, driver profiles with the ability to learn your habits, and over-the-air updates for vehicle functions. Updatable vehicle functions include vehicle performance, maintenance updates and new features (the functionality is a Tesla hallmark that otherwise remains rare). Another 10.2-inch screen replaces the traditional gauge cluster. One eye-popping feature is the available panoramic glass roof, which spans nearly the whole length of the vehicle and opens the cabin up nicely. It doesn鈥檛 come with any kind of shade beneath it; Ford says that glass has been treated to keep ultraviolet rays and heat out, but we鈥檒l have to test that on a warm day ourselves to be convinced. Ford will offer a range of animal-free seating materials for both the seats and steering wheel. One set of specs we did get was cargo capacity 鈥?29 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 59.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.
There鈥檚 also a front trunk 鈥渇runk鈥?that has 4.8 cubic feet of cargo space, which is sealed and comes with a drain so you can fill it with ice or dirty items and simply wash it out later. All power and range figures Ford released are estimates, so these are subject to change after further testing and EPA evaluation. The Mustang Mach-E will be offered in standard and extended-range versions; standard versions feature a 75.7-kilowatt-hour battery pack with 288 lithium-ion cells, while the extended has a 98.8-kwh battery pack with 376 cells. On several of the trim levels, buyers can choose between rear- and all-wheel drive, the latter of which adds an extra electric motor to the front axle. Power output estimates vary by model. The Select is only available with the standard-range battery and produces 255 horsepower and 306 pounds-feet of torque (417 pounds-feet of torque with AWD). The Premium makes similar power figures with the standard-range battery, but move up to the extended-range battery and it jumps to 282 hp for RWD and 332 hp for AWD with the same reported torque figures.
Charging times vary widely, and on a household outlet, the Mach-E only adds 3 miles of range per charge hour. A Ford mobile charger comes standard that allows charging from a 240-volt outlet commonly used for large household appliances like a clothes dryer. On a 240-volt outlet with the mobile charger, the charging rate rises to 22 miles of range per charge hour. And if you get a Ford Connected Charging station installed in your house, that rises to 32 miles of range per charge hour. To get a Ford Connected Charging station involved in your home, Ford has teamed up with Amazon so you can order one along with all the other random stuff you buy there. Safety certainly comes standard on the Mustang Mach-E. All models come with reverse brake assist, forward automatic emergency braking and warnings, blind spot warnings, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist with lane centering and speed-limit sign recognition. A 360-degree camera system and active park assist are also available.
